LIV Golf announced this week that it employed former NBA executive Scott O’Neill to function the league’s new CEO. O’Neill, after all, replaces the controversial Greg Norman, who served as commissioner because the league’s inception in 2022.
The information got here throughout the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the place each Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are starting their 2025 campaigns. When requested about O’Neill, each Rahm and Rory supplied rave evaluations.
“I noticed Scott was confirmed,” McIlroy stated to Bunkered.co.uk while in Dubai.
“Scott was at our Showdown match in Vegas and clearly Greg was as effectively. Then Scott was on the first night time of TGL. He has a tremendous observe file with what he has performed in sports activities, by way of managing groups and teams of groups, possession teams. He has acquired the precise credentials to take over a sports activities league. I believe for LIV it’s most likely an excellent transfer now they’re established.”
Rahm echoed these sentiments.
“I believe having someone like Scott, who’s a little bit bit exterior the world of golf however very a lot on this planet of sport makes him sort of an ideal match for that,” Rahm stated after lacking the minimize Friday.
“Sadly, there’s been a little bit bit, probably a little bit an excessive amount of dangerous blood between Greg and possibly the governing our bodies, and to have someone exterior of which may assist the state of affairs. Plus, [O’Neill’s general view of what a league or a corporation may work and will work together with his expertise within the NBA, proper? With that, and based mostly on what I talked to him in regards to the imaginative and prescient he has and his enthusiasm, I believe he’s going to be a really optimistic affect for LIV, and FOX, clearly, as effectively.”
The opposite massive LIV Golf information this week is that the league struck a tv take care of FOX Sports activities, a large step up from its earlier take care of the CW Community.
“Though it’s primarily a U.S. factor to have the biggest market, golf market on this planet have the ability to watch LIV Golf on a channel that for the higher half needs to be just about each TV within the nation, it’s excellent,” Rahm added.
“Trying ahead to hopefully enhancing some years. Numerous enchancment this 12 months.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.